Mop holder



Aug. 30, 1932. N. B. STONE'.

IOPHOLDSR Filed Dec. 9, 1951 MUNI )www

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 30, 1932 UniRef-STATES NATIELAITIEL STONE, F 'WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 0F COLUMBIA Mor HOLDER Applicatipn lcd December 9, 1931,. Serial No. 579,927.

This invention relates to mopholders and, among other objects, aims tov provide a simple and effective clamping device for holding rag or cloth mops and means whereby the mop may be easily applied and removed from a channel-shaped member. v

Other aims and advantages of the invention will appear in the specification whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein: i

embodying the invention; y y

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the mop shown in Fig. 1; y

Fig. 3 is a sideelevation onan enlarged scale of a clamping member for holding'the mop; and u Figlfi is a face view of a releasable locking member for the moplclamp. 4

Referring particularly to the drawing, the preferred form of mop holder is shown as comprising a handle'l() secured in a substantially cylindrical socket 11 conveniently by means of a screw 12. The lower end of the handle has an axial bore 13 within which is inserted a small tube 14 and the lower end of the cylindrical socket has a lateral flange 15 which is riveted or otherwise secured to a U-shaped or channel-shaped mop carrying member 16 within which a folded cloth or rag mop 17 is adapted to be inserted and gripped.

As shown in Fig. 2, themop element 17 is made up of a plurality of plies offcloth or fabric and is gripped in the channel member 16 by means of a gripping bar 18 which is conveniently cut out of sheet metal or bar iron. This bar'is preferably shaped somewhat like an ideal beam having its centra-l portion strengthened or reinforced by a bowed portion 19 and, to the center of the bar is attached .or secured a pin 20 conveniently by means of welding which is adapted to be inserted through an opening 21 in the channel and into Vthe tubular sleeve 1-1 in the end of the handle. The hole in the back of the channel is alined with the tube 11i to facilitate easy insert-ion and the pin preferably has a tapered or conical endvto pierce theV fabric and to guide the pin into the tube.

To lock the clamping bar in gripping relabar are pulled out.

tionfto the mop7 there is shown a. releasable gripping device cto-operating with the pin 2O betweenv the back face of the channel and the lower end of the handle. In thisinstance, the gripping member is shown as being `in the form of a sheetvmetal disk having an ear p"23projectinglooseiy through small openingin the socket and also presenting an opening 24 slightly larger than the pin 20, the l arrangement being such' that the opening is Fig.V 1 is a side elevation "of'a mop head normally slightly out of line with the opening inthe channel and the axis of the bore 13"in the handle. This diskis slightly smaller in diameter than the internal diameter of the socket to permit it `to havel limited pivotal movement within the socket. On the opposite side ofthe diskthere is shown a projection`25 extending through a slot 26` cut in the end of the socket to providev a lever to release the grip on the pin. The slot 26 which extends through the end of the socket permits the disk to be assembled within the socket before the channel 16' is secured toit. Y

On the endy of the handle there is shown a helical spring 27 conveniently secured by means ofa staple 28. VThe spring acts upon the upperface of the disk 22 to press it down- "wardll into canting or gripping engagement wit-ht e pin 2O` byvirtue vof the swinging or pivotal movement of the disk (Fig. 2) The construction is such that the gripping bar may4 be freely inserted in the holder by, sliding'the pin-into the tube in the end of the handle. As the pinl is being pushed home. it

tends to force the disk upwardly thereby 8 `bringing the opening 24 into axial alinement with the tube and the hole in the channel; but

after thepin'is pushed home or as far as it will go in the tube, the spring 27 forces the disk downwardly to grip the pin on opposite sides by canting action. Thus,` the disk automaticallylocksthe pin so that the bar cannot be released withoutliftin g or swinging the disk upwardly to its horizontal position by means of the ear 25. The ear or projection 25 may be raised by one finger/and held in releasing position'until the pin and To apply themop element 17 which, may `be an old piece of rag, -rugor toweling, the

pointed end of the pin is inserted through the middle of the fabric and pierces its own way so that the upper straight edges of the bar 18 engage the fabric at the fold. The mop is held assembled on the bar by gripping the fabric on opposite sides'against the middle of the bar so that the pin is ready to be inserted in the handle. This may be done by hand. However,.the shape of the bar is such that its middle portion projects below the channel when a mop element is inserted in the channel. `To tighten the grip onl the mop element, the mop may be placed on the floor so that the middle portion of the bar rests on the fabric at one side and, while holding the handle upright, the user may stand upon the opposite ends of the channel, thereby employing her Weight to force the pin home into the handle. lVh-en this is done the opposite ends 0f the bar firmly grip the fabric at both sides and the canting disk or gripping member irmly holds the pin so as to prevent any accidental disengagement. The operating ear or projectionvf vprojects a short distanceV through the slot 26 in the socket to enable it to be grasped by the lingers of the user and swung upwardly to release its grip so that the mop element may be pulled out.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the mop holder is very simple and easy to manipulate. There are no weak parts apt .to get out of order and the automatic gripping device will not ybe affected by ordinary rust. The user does not require any specialvtool to insert orrelease an ordinary rag or mop element. bviously, the present invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described except as set forth in the appended claims.

Vhat is claimed is 1. A mop holder of the character described comprising, in combination, a wooden handle havingY an axial opening in its lower end; a

cylindrical socket member secured to the handle and projecting beyond its end; a channel-shaped holding member secured to the end ofthe socket; a mop-clampingbar adapted to be inserted in the channel member; said channel member having an opening alined with the axial opening in the handle; a smooth, pointed pin integrally connect-ed to the clamping bar adapted to pierce the mop fabric and be inserted through said opening in the channel and into the axial opening in the handle; and a spring-urged gripping plate pivotally mounted at one end in the socket and having an opening engaging opposite sides of the pin adapted to grip and hold the pin when the gripping bar is inserted in the channel.

2. A mop holder l*of the class described comprising in combination, a handle having an axial bore in its lowerend; a tubular sleeve inserted in said bore; a socket secured to the handle; a channel-shaped holding element secured to the socket; a gripping bar adapted to be inserted in the channel; said channel having an opening alined with said bore; a pin secured to the middle of the clamping bar adapted to project through said opening and into said tubular sleeve; a gripping disk within the socket having an opening to receive the pin and arranged between the end of the handle and the back of the channel member; said socket having an opening at one side; a projection on said gripping disk pivotally mounted in said opening; said socket having an elongated slot extending through its lower end and arranged` diametrically opposite from the pivotal opening for said disk; an operating projection on the disk projecting through said elongated slot; and a coil spring secured to the lower end of the handle acting upon the clamping disk automatically to force it into canting and gripping engagement with the pin to hold the bar in gripping engagement with a mop element in thechannel.

3. In combination with a mop'holder of the class described, a handle; a channelshaped holding member; a substantially T- shaped mop clamping member adapted'to be inserted in the channel-shaped member; a pivotally mounted transverse gripping plate adjacent to the ends of the handle having an opening engaging the stem of the T-shaped clamping member when the clamping member is inserted in the channel -to hold a fabric mop assembled therein.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afxed my signature.

NATHANIEL B. STONE. 

